The Three R's

My friend Pedro teaches a Freshman Seminar at the local college. Since he is given a lot of freedom as to what he teaches, he mostly uses it as an opportunity to shake the self-absorbed American teenager out of complacency and into a more thoughtful, well-rounded life. A sort of introduction to practical philosophy, if you will.

Naturally this is accomplished by reading a lot and writing papers, and that's also where the problem arises. These kids can barely read, and by that I don't mean they are illiterate. I mean they have little idea how to devour a text and then explain what it is they just read. I don't know if it's because they get distracted by text messages, updating their Facebook page, or the opposite sex strolling casually to and from the shower. I also don't know what the SAT is measuring these days, but it certainly isn't comprehension.

But it's not just reading. These kids can barely write. I've been watching Pedro's class for a few years now, and the spelling and grammar has generally improved. So whatever changes took place ten or so years ago - bravo! However, they still tend to misuse words, and they still tend to get confused by its and it's, they're, their and there, and other things I had ironed out by the sixth grade.

Not only that, but the five paragraph essay seems to be dead. These kids have no idea how to write an introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion. Sure, they think they've got it down, but really all they have down is the art of the MFA citation. And that's nice and all, but twenty well written citations does not a paper make.

It's almost as if they don't know the paper is supposed to contain their opinion. Most of the time they can barely even articulate an opinion, unless they're a strong sports fan or a Single Issue Fanatic. Sometimes I go help Pedro in his attempt to help the students write better papers. Most of the time what I encounter is a strong stream-of-consciousness style of writing with a large helping of feelings-oriented argumentation.

Certainly there is a time and place for such things. But not in an opinion paper (usually the first paper), and certainly not in a paper in which one is supposed to defend one's worldview (usually the second or third). Can you imagine a politician trying to argue the merits of a controversial piece of legislation by meandering all over the place with his random thoughts and feelings?

I'm sure all teachers in all generations have lamented the poor education of the students they see every year. Every generation looks back on the previous one and sees nothing but faults and missed opportunities. But here's the rub: New Jersey spends an astronomical amount of money on its education system. As a result they're consistently ranked in the top five states. Yet this is the result? These kids not only can't articulate their own opinions, they have an almost unshakable faith in their own ability to think for themselves. Pedro is brilliant at shining a light on this dark lie, and at the end of the semester these kids - whose brains are still mostly mush - do manage to understand that they certainly have not been as thoughtful as they claim, and they have a sinking suspicion they ought to think a bit more on the things that matter most.

That is a noble pursuit, but I think it's sad that it is hampered, at least initially, by such poverty in two of the three pillars of modern education.